Thursday, December 31, 2009

Sister Mary Dennis Ogle

Sister Mary Dennis Ogle was connected to the teaching staff at OCHS, but I am unsure how and would welcome comments filling me in.

Update: A reader kindly left this comment -- Sister Mary Denis taught English and Religion into the 1980's. Thank you for that. She has also passed away. In pace requiescat.

Wednesday, December 30, 2009

From My Favourite Teacher -- Gary Ranalli

At least that how Gary Ranalli thought what I thought when I asked him to autograph his picture.

Tuesday, December 29, 2009

Miss Hendricks

Miss Hendricks was apparently on staff. I have no recollection of her, or what she taught. I invite comments to fill me in.

Update (Thank you): Miss Hendricks taught geography.

Monday, December 28, 2009

Giacomo Macchione

Jac or Giacomo Macchione was a cool dude -- a teacher with panache and flair.

Sunday, December 27, 2009

High School Foyer

I can't remember what we were waiting for in the foyer of the high school, but this was my Grade 13 class. Left to right Victor Suppan (checked pants), Bob Hickey (back to camera), Marc Adams, Carolyn Corrigan (face partially hidden), Nicole Gaboury (sideways away from camera), Sue Vitali, unknown, unknown, Suzanne Nadon (far right).

Saturday, December 26, 2009

Graham See Clowning Around the Christmas Tree

With a Christmas tree ornament stuck to his nose, Graham See plays the clown at Christmas.

Meanwhile for something completely different:

While going through my Kodachrome archives, I came across the following graphics. One year (1972, I believe), the illustrated book "A Charlie Brown Christmas" was in my stocking. For some inexplicable reason, I started photographing the pages with Kodachrome slide film. The scanned Kodachrome images were in my archives from the 1970's and I include them as a nostalgic look back:






And on a non-Christmas theme, the computer science class went to Durham College when Art Chai taught us Cobol in Grade 12. The computer students at Durham College were adept at making ASCII art. Back in the day, the only type of computer printers were the large impact printers with the perforations for the spokes to pull the paper through the printer.

The Durham College students made the huge ASCII art mural of Sylvester the Cat with various letters and characters on the keyboard. I photographed that too, and created a bit of an inset of Sylvester's face to show how the X's, M's and periods were combined to make the "art".
I have no explanation as to why I took these photos other than there was film in the camera, and as the old saying goes "To a man with a hammer, everything looks like a nail".

Thursday, December 24, 2009

Merry Christmas

Merry Christmas to you and yours. Here is hoping that the season is filled with peace and joy for you.

Wednesday, December 23, 2009

Ruth Nicholls

Ruth Nicholls taught English when I was at OCHS. I believe that this was her first year of teaching at OCHS when this photo was snapped.

Tuesday, December 22, 2009

Linda Langero, Math Teacher

Linda Langero taught math when I was at OCHS. She was one of three young, unmarried math teachers -- Miss Catalano, Miss Holland, and Miss Langero.

Monday, December 21, 2009

Oliver Pace

Oliver Pace had panache and elan. He drove a red Alfa Romeo sports car, dressed impeccably and exuded class and style.

Sunday, December 20, 2009

Bill Langley

Bill Langley was one of the jock teachers. He was a physical education teacher and a coach. He came to OCHS about half way through my high school years, and I never had him for a teacher, and hence did not get to know him.

Saturday, December 19, 2009

Bill Higgins with eyes closed

Bill Higgins is caught mid-blink with his eyes closed and overcoat on. I'm not sure what he taught. It may have been history or languages.

Update (Thank you): Bill Higgins taught religion (among possibly other things).

Friday, December 18, 2009

Chess Club in Action

Pictured left to right: Doug Hamlyn's younger brother (thanks for the correction) someone who's first name I can't remember, Don Hamlyn, Francis Kreisz, foreground ... unknown, center- Kevin Duignan, sitting on desk - unknown, standing at right is Mike Ivanco.

Update -- a reader left this comment: Sitting on the desk playing chess with Don Hamlyn is Larry Burrows. Don Hamlyn is indeed Doug Hamlyn's younger brother.

Thank you. That is what I thought as well. Don Hamlyn is Doug's younger brother and another student that I have been communicating with confirmed it.

Thursday, December 17, 2009

Mrs. Jones

I don't remember much about Mrs. Jones other than she had a British accent. She may have been an art teacher. Anyone with further information is invited to leave a comment.

Update: Reader confirmed that Mrs. Jones was an art teacher. Thank you.

Wednesday, December 16, 2009

Blair Morris with Autograph

A young Blair Morris is pictured in the staff room with his big red teachers planner that all of the teacher's had.

Tuesday, December 15, 2009

Andre Grotenhuis crams for an exam in the hallway. When I asked him what O.H.P.C. stood for, he said "Oshawa Harbour Parking Commission". I have no idea what it means.

Monday, December 14, 2009

Mr. Gentry Serenades Sister Conrad

Herbert Gentry was an amazing musician and music teacher. He could play any instrument in the band and play it well. He was especially skilled on the violin and trumpet. Here he serenades Sister Conrad Lauber, the principal.

Sunday, December 13, 2009

Dan Dalby Playing Cards

I am amazed at the number of pictures that I have of students playing cards throughout all of the years. Here Dan Dalby, Mary Coll (back to camera) and Sharon ... um ... I think that it is Sharon Clark play a game. There is a fourth person off to the right that didn't make the picture.

Saturday, December 12, 2009

Miss Gardini and Stella Barnett

I don't remember how Miss Gardini fit into the picture of the staff of OCHS. I don't even remember her first name. I invite comments to explain. Stella Barnett, the typing and business teacher is in the background.

Update 11/04/2017 - I just heard from Gloria Wrobel who was in Miss Gardini's French class in Grade 9 in 1974. So the mystery is solved for me. She was a languages teacher.

Friday, December 11, 2009

Cafeteria Ladies

The cafeteria ladies were characters that could have stepped right out of the scene of a "Laverne and Shirley" television episode. Mrs. Hickie is on the left and Mrs. Dorothea Dugan is on the right. Student Judy McLinton peers through the doors.

I decoded some of the sign behind them with the 1974 prices. Here is a partial list of what we paid to eat in high school:

  • Sandwiches Meat 35 cents
  • Sandwiches Non Meat 30 cents
  • Pizza, Hotdogs 25 cents
  • French Fries 15 cents
  • White milk 15 cents
  • Chocolate Milk 15 cents
  • Ice Cream 15 cents
  • Chips 10 cents

My favourite were the pizzas, although in retrospect, they are probably like the no-name frozen little rounds that you get now. They were a treat back then.

Thursday, December 10, 2009

Sister Conrad Lauber Watching Football

I am amazed that in my photographs, at almost every student event of note, Sister Conrad Lauber, the principal was present. She certainly participated in the student events of the school. Above pictured she is dressed warmly for a late November football game in the biting cold.

Wednesday, December 9, 2009

John Donkers Reading Newspaper

Teacher John Donkers reads a newspaper in the staff room next to a chess set. Was teaching at OCHS a version of la dolce vita or the soft life?

Tuesday, December 8, 2009

Colleen Bulger & Doug Zochodne

Colleen Bulger (right) and Doug Zochodne (left) leave the aircraft after an overflight of the Oshawa/Toronto corridor. Teacher Blair Morris organized a Fly Day for his Grade 13 Urban Studies class at the Oshawa Airport.

Monday, December 7, 2009

Thursday, December 3, 2009

Taking a break again


I am busily preparing for my speech and workshop at the Sheraton in Nassau, so I probably won't post for a few days. If you are in Nassau on the Cable Beach strip, drop in, say hello, check out the booths and have a great time. HP is giving away a laptop a day for the three days that the expo runs. See you next week with more OCHS memories.

Bev Ferguson

I am not sure in what capacity Bev Ferguson taught, but what I do know is that I was never in her classes. Comments are invited as to her role on the staff of OCHS.

Update: Bev Ferguson was the librarian.

Wednesday, December 2, 2009

Russell Dupuis

Russell Dupuis had incredibly plastic features. He could make any face possible. He was a few years behind me, but I remember him from altar boy try-outs.

Tuesday, December 1, 2009

In the Back of the School Yard

I was standing in the corridor at the front entrance of the school near the office when through the glass, I saw the girls in the school yard. I snapped the pic. Below is an enlargement. The only person that I recognize is Cheryl Hambly.


You will note the wide expanse of grass and trees, and then nothing in the fields beyond the schools. I understand that this area of the schoolyard is all built in, and there is a subdivision now of some sort behind the school.

Update: A reader left this comment: Laura Mozic - far left, foreground. Vicki Smegal - facing camera, hand brushing back hair.

PS -- It is good to be back in the tropics. I left behind the first snowfall of the season back in Canada.